Pensioner murdered 'by mistake'

Norman Moffatt died two months after being stabbed

A Londonderry pensioner who was murdered five years ago was a victim of mistaken identity, police have said.

Detectives investigating the killing of Norman Moffatt, 73, believe the intended victim was a local paedophile.

Mr Moffatt was stabbed at the junction of Railway Road and Circular Road in Coleraine on 26 January 2001. He died two months later.

Police made fresh appeals about the murder during the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Tuesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Kyle said it was an "horrendous mistake".

"The fact is that the killer got the wrong man," he said.

"We have people within the community who were outraged about a paedophile they thought was getting away with it.

"I need those same people to feel outraged enough to come forward and assist me with this case, in relation to the murder of a totally innocent man."

The incident happened near his home in Coleraine

Mr Moffatt, who was married with two children, had been on his way home from collecting his daily paper when he was attacked at about 0630 BST.

He stumbled back into his house and was rushed to hospital.

Detectives used enhanced photographs and CCTV film during the Crimewatch programme and staged a reconstruction of the murder.

Mr Kyle said some people had come forward during the past few weeks.

"But there is still crucial information out there, and that comes from the people who are close to whoever perpetrated this awful crime," he added.

He said there were a number of potential witnesses picked up on the cameras on the morning of the attack who have never come forward.

Police are interested in hearing from a man with a rucksack, a man on a bike, a lorry driver and two men standing at a phone box.

They are appealing for anyone captured on CCTV camera to come forward; are interesting in finding out about the woman seen on Circular Road in the early hours of 26 January and two men seen arguing on the same road a short distance from the stabbing.

Earlier, Mr Kyle said the Moffatt family had suffered a devastating loss which was "as real to them today as it was five years ago".

"They deserve to have this case brought to a successful conclusion," he said.

Anyone with information about the murder of Mr Moffatt is asked to contact detectives at Coleraine police station on 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on Freephone 0800 555111.